Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏÍø

Once again, Easter is upon us. It's that time when we do, well, pretty much the same thing we do every weekend in Shanghai. Eat lots of food and get well pissed. As always, there are loads of options around town if you're up to celebrate resurrections and mythical bipedal rodents that lay multicolored eggs. Here are our picks for 2013. This list is far from comprehensive. Click on our for that. And, as always, keep an eye peeled for last minute additions.

***

Buffets

Nearly every hotel with a few stars to its credit will be doing some kind of buffet set-up in its all-day dining facility. Most will do something to keep the kids out of your hair for a couple of hours too. Let's start with in the . In addition to the live cooking stations serving everything from Spanish ham to fresh seafood, they'll be serving traditional Easter faves for 580rmb+15% per person. If you've got some coin burning a hole in your pocket, you can upgrade to the . Caviar is a kind of egg, that works for Easter, right?

There is, of course, . You know it. You love it. It's the standard bearer of . Expect the usual lavish spread with live entertainment. There will also be a visit from some poor chump who drew the short straw and has to wear an uncomfortable plush rabbit suit all afternoon the Easter Bunny himself. He'll be leading the kids around for Easter egg hunts and other activities.

If you prefer a brunch without a 15% service charge, there is always . They'll be offering a . For the kids, there will be a facepainting, Easter egg hunts and candy painting. That's 150rmb for adults. 80rmb for kids eight to 12. Seven and under are free. Probably among the best bargains in town if you're bringing kids in tow.

Set Menus

is a solid standby for those in the mood to splurge. Newly appointed chef Bruno Bruesch is preparing haute eats like foie gras, rabbit, and truffle lamb loin in port wine jus. 688rmb+15% per person for three courses. 888rmb+15% for all that plus a glass of champagne and wine pairings with each course.

Just up the street from that, Chef Matthew Ona at is preparing a starting with an appetizer of smoked Pacific salmon and a butternut and kobocha squash soup. For your main, you have a choice of roasted Turkey with all of the fixings, organic honey-glazed black ham slow-roasted in a Pearl Shallot reduction, or a cabernet sauvignon braised beef roast. For dessert, pound cake drizzled with a lemon and orange glaze. 228rmb per person. Pretty good deal. No?

stalwart hosts a . They weren't terribly specific about what exactly this means, but Chef Jordi Servalls will probably be putting his stamp on things with some molecular touches. For three courses you pay 368rmb+10%. Four courses, 498+10%. For bottomless flutes of Perrier Jouet add 298rmb+10% per person to the bill. For the kids, there will be activities like chocolate Easter Bunny making.

wine bar and bistrot is serving -- dishes like Bordeaux eggs poached with foie and red wine sauce, lamb stew with mixed vegetables and a chocoloate mousse with tiramisu. That's 198rmb per person. Add 100 for free-flow Bordeaux bubbly.

Somewhere in Between

and both offer semi-buffets. Basically, this means a buffet course to start and then a couple of courses served a la carte. , obviously, will lean more toward Teutonic Easter traditions and they'll throw in ulimited prosecco, house wine and soft drinks. That goes for 398rmb per person. Issimo's begins with a selection of antipasti and other Italian Easter eats. For mains, you can choose from dishes like lamb shank with thyme potatoes and spring risotto of baby spinach, peas and fresh goat cheese. Three-courses for 308rmb, and they'll throw in some Easter chocolates. Add 100rmb to that sum for free-flow prosecco and soft drinks. Later on that evening they'll be serving an .

Unorthodox

Both and are giving into the prevailing winds by celebrating Easter more than a month in advance (Eastern Othodox Easter falls on May 5 this year). Bloc has a set at 138rmb. That's a starter, a main and a drink. For endless bubbly or mimosas throw down 80 kuai more. Meanwhile, The Fat Olive has whipped up like lamb chops with Greek herbs, phyllo pastry stuffed with ham and dill mousse, ouzo custard and more. They're also serving "Greek eggnog" at 60rmb a pop. I have no idea what goes into "Greek eggnog." God, I hope its not something like tzatziki and ouzo.

Out in the 'Burbs

, the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao's does its annual brunch. This one's generally quite kid-friendly. You pay 358rmb+15% for a full brunch spread. They'll keep the youngsters busy with face painting and other activities.

Clear on the other end of town, we've got in the recently-opened Jinqiao Marriott. here consists of live cooking stations preparing Western and Asian faves. You can load up on bubbly until you're on the floor. Your kids can load up on chocolate until they're on the ceiling. That's 398rmb per person. Kids six to 12 are half price. Under six and they get in for free.

Slightly further in from the hinterlands, there is in the . They're offering a featuring choices like waffles with berry compote, buttermilk pancakes, seared tuna with fennel risotto and more. 388rmb+15% gets you five courses. Throw in another 100 and you get unlimited bubbly, wine, beer and soft drink